Improvement in car-couplings



M. HERRENS. Oar-Coupling.

No. 220,146. Patented Sept. 30,1879.

WITNESS S x INVENTOR t we Wm M m,@ 0wuc4/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL HERRENS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT lN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 220,14 6, dated September 30, 1879; application filed April 26, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MICHAEL HERRENS, of St. Louis,in the county ofSt. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a side elevation, partly in section, of my car-coupling. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig 3 is aperspective view, and Fig. 4is an end View.

Identical parts are designated and referred to by the same letters.

My invention relates to car-couplings; and it consists in a coupling-bar which is pivoted near its center to the draw-head, the projecting part of the lever being provided with a head, and the opposite or incased end being weighted, so as to retain it in the desired position for coupling. 1

It also consists in a draw-head having two chambers or spaces, one for receiving and holding the coupling-bar above described, and another space to receive the head of the couplingbar of the car to be coupled; and it also consists in an inclined interior face in the rear of the buffer-face, which face is provided with two slots, with openings upon their reverse ends for the introduction and retention of the drawbars, as will herein more clearly appear.

A is the draw-head. B is the buffer-face of the same and G is a partition which divides the draw-head into two equal parts vertically, and D is the draw-bar proper.

E E are the coupling-bars, the construction of which is shown in the dotted lines of Fig. 1. There are levers 0 extending from the rear or weighted end of the coupling-bar, which extend toward the side of the car far enough so an operator can safely reach in and raise the coupling-bar without danger to his person.

The weighted portion of the coupling-bar is represented by the enlarged part 0 The pin (3 retains the coupling-bar E in position and sustains the draft of the cars.

The coupling-bar is flattened, as shown at c, and the head 0' consists of quadrant-a1 lugs formed upon each side of the bar. The face of this coupling-head is inclined from the top outward and downward.

F is an inclined interior face or wall, set in rear of the buffer, and formin g the front wall of the draw-head proper. In this wall there is an opening, f, sufficient to admit the head of the coupling-bar, and a vertical slot, f, to admit of its being moved up and down on its pivot. In this wall there is also an opening, f, to admit the head of the coupling-bar of the other car, and a slot, f to admit the neck or body of the coupling-bar to pass up and down, and retain the head at all positions except when opposite the opening f By employing two coupling-bars, I at once cause a double attachment or coupling of the cars, thus securing greater certainty of a coup ling and strength of same, and provide a coupling which, being constructed alike, any two of the same will form a coupling.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The cars being provided with my invention, upon bringing the heads 6 of the couplingbars in contact with the inclined walls or faces F, cause the coupling-bars to be depressed, so as to permit the heads of the same to enter openings f when the weighted end will cause the head to be raised, where it will be securely retainedin position, the draft having a tendency to hold it more firmly in proper position, as the shoulders of the head of the couplingbar are upon the same incline as the walls F.

To uncouple the cars, raise the levers e and pass the cars from each other. In case the contact of coupling is very sudden, the projection 6 of the coupling-bar E en gages the drawhead and prevents a displacement of the parts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a car-coupling, the coupling-harE,'provided with the head 6, body c weighted end e, and levers e, and projection 6 as and for the purposes substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. Ina car-coupling, the draw-head A, pro vided with thepar'tition O, the buffer B, and

the inclined face F, provided with the openiugs f and f and the slots f 1 and f, as and for the purposes substantially as set forth.

3. In a car-coupling, the draw-head A, provided with the partition 0 and inclined face F, in combination with the coupling-bar E, provided with the head 6", body a, and weighted end 0', and levers 1: as and for the purposes, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

MICHAEL HERRENS.

Witnesses:

JAMES J. SHEEHY, W. N. SEVERANOE. 

